Christus Victor

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Christus Victor Sermon Notes for May 6, 2007 by Pastor Dennis R. Tuuri Sinclair Ferguson’s Three Questions: 1. Why did the Son of God appear? 1 John 3:8 2. What did Christ do at the cross? Colossians 2:15 3. Why did Christ partake of flesh and blood? Hebrews 2:14 Theories of the Atonement 1. Anselm of Canterbury – Objective - Substitution and Satisfaction - Cur Deus Homo Rom. 3:24 ,25 Terminates on God (Past); Theocentric; Focus is on Wrath and Individual 2. Peter Abelard – Subjective – Moral Influence (“Amazing Love”) Cornelius Van der Waal’s Covenantal Gospel ; Another Gospel 1 Peter 2:21 Terminates on Man (Present); Anthropocentric; Focus is on Love and Individual 3. Church Fathers - Classical or Ransom – Christus Victor by Gustaf Aulen 1 Tim. 2:6; Terminates on Satan (Future); Cosmocentric; Focus on Victory & Cosmos Christ the Victor 1. In the Protoevangelium (First Gospel) of Genesis 3:15 (see also vv. 20,21) 2. In the Gospels A. Matthew 4:1ff (Lk. 3:38 ) Anointing, Wilderness, Adam , Israel , Jesu B. Matthew 12:29 Strong Man Bound (“Signs” of Healing) C. Lk. 8:30 “Legion” Satan’s Army Attacks D. Luke 10:17-19 Christ’s Army Victorious E. Jn. 12:28-33 The Impending Crucifixion; Calvin – cross a chariot of triumph F. Mt. 4:10 Centrality of the Cross G. Jn. 12:31 ; 13:2, 27, 14:31 (see also Mk. 14:41 ,42) The Eve of the Battle H. Jn. 19:30 It Is Finished 3. In the Offerings of Leviticus and In the Day of Coverings (Atonement) 4. In the Epistles A. 1 John 3:8 (see also v. 5; 4:9,10) B. Col. 2:15 C. Heb. 2:14, 15 D. Rom. 16:20 The “beatdown” continues! (300) Ferguson ’s Four Implications Theological: Placates Father’s wrath, removes man’s guilt, destroys the devil’s kingdom Doxological: Central to worship Pastoral: Fear of Death Removed Heb. 2:14,15 Missiological Draw all men, Rev. 11:15, Mt. 28, Ps. 2; Jn. 17:2 Conclusion Christus Propitiator, Christus Exemplar, Christus Victor Cosmos vs. Individual George Macdonald Quote; Jn. 14:31 Jn. 16:33 ; 1 Jn. 5:4,5; 1 Cor. 2:6 (”coming to nothing” - structures of existence); Ps. 144:1 Questions from Christus Victor for Young Hearers 1. Jesus came to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ the works of the devil. 2. Jesus ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ over evil on the cross. 3. Jesus died in a body to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ the one who had the power of death. 4. RCC is part of ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Presbytery. 5. He lived in the ___ ___th century. 6. He said Jesus died as a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 7. Abelard said Jesus was an example of ___ ___ ___ ___ for us. 8. The early church said that Jesus came to rule over a ___ ___ ___ world. 9. The first promise of Jesus coming was to ___ ___ ___ ___ the devil. 10. Jesus ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ the tempter, Satan, in the wilderness. 11. The demons were Satan’s ___ ___ ___ ___. 12.Jesus and His disciples gave them a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___! 13.The cross was a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ __ of triumph! 14.___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a celebration of Christ’s victory! 15.Christians ___ ___ ___ ___ no man, and certainly not death!! 16.Christians are a conquering ___ ___ ___ ___! 17.We are supposed to be ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 18.Even Christian women are ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.